College to appeal decision not to allow 195 homes on its Nuneaton campus

The plans for the Hinckley Road site of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College in Nuneaton are being appealed.

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College bosses have lodged an appeal against the decision not to allow them to build 195 homes on its Nuneaton campus.

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) has today (April 17) revealed it has begun the process to attempt to reverse the decision made by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council not to allow it to build the housing development on its Nuneaton site.

The college wants to sell a portion of its Hinckley Road campus for development, this would include 195 dwellings with sports pitch, associated public open space and other green infrastructure, landscaping.

There would also be car parking of up to 400 spaces including disabled parking and 25 per cent of the dwellings will be affordable housing.

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The college has spent the last six months considering its next move and says it needs the cash from the sale of the land for the development to plough into new facilities.

Marion Plant, chief executive at NWSLC, explained: “The college is at a crossroads. We need the funds from this redevelopment to change the campus facilities so that we keep pace with demands to provide a world-class, skilled workforce in a safe, modern and well-equipped environment. There are no other timely, alternatives to provide sufficient funds to sustain our virtuous circle.

“First you establish high teaching standards. OFSTED has recognised we’re already achieving those. That means you attract more students and more staff who reach ever higher so that students fulfil even more of their potential and get great job opportunities and life chances. But the foundation to all of this is a great environment. Outstanding facilities - great buildings, facilities, resources – help us deliver outstanding student results.

“In common with colleges across the country, we have seen a 30 per cent reduction in funding over the past 10 years. We know government expects colleges to be responsible for their financial health. With the introduction of the insolvency regime, colleges like us must invest in our future by using our own reserves or generating cash.

“For many reasons, NWSLC has been left behind in keeping our campus on track compared with other colleges’ facilities. No other comparable college has had less spent on it than ours through no fault of our own. We must put that right now hence the appeal.

"Whilst the government continues to announce funding for colleges to invest in their estates much of this is match-funded from colleges’ own reserves or subject to colleges being able to demonstrate that they are already investing. The funding is also attached to specific qualifications - such as T levels - which the college has applied to provide but won’t be able to sustain in the medium term unless we make this investment in our estate now."

What happens now?

Now the college has decided to appeal the council's decision, an independent inspector will look at the case.

The Planning Inspectorate will check to see if the appeal is valid before an enquiry is held.